Cardiology Question for the Week of November 13, 2023

Question:

When a coronary and bypass graft angiography is performed without concomitant left heart catheterization, what code would we report if the physician does not give LV angiographic data but diagnostic selective coronary angiography is included?

Answer:

The answer to this in part depends on whether the aortic valve plane is crossed. When the physician does not give LV angiographic data and true diagnostic selective coronary angiography is performed and documented without crossing the aortic valve plane, code 93454 may be submitted. However, if, in addition to performing diagnostic selective coronary angiography, the physician does cross into the left ventricle (regardless of whether contrast has been injected) and records and has evidence of LV pressures being obtained, code 93458 should be submitted instead of 93454.

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